Marin Cilic’s comeback leads to five memorable Challenger moments from 2025 | ATP Tour

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Cilic’s comeback leads to five Challenger moments to remember in 2025

Nava’s dominance, Buruchaga’s marathon win among highlights

December 16, 2025

From Marin Cilic’s record-breaking comeback, to Emilio Nava’s dominant performance, to Marc Rahal’s thrilling win, ATPTour.com highlights five moments to remember from the 2025 ATP Contenders season.

Cilic returns to Challengers, becomes oldest grass-court champion
Cilic has made a strong return to the ATP Challenger Tour after undergoing two knee surgeries in the past two years. At the Girona Challenge in March, the Tour veteran won his first Challenge title since 2007, surpassing Andy Murray for the longest gap between Challenge winners (17 years and 10 months).

“You have to accept the fact that I’m no longer in the top 100, top 50, so you can’t just pick and choose whichever tournament you want to play. It’s time to put your head down, work hard, get back to Challengers and fight hard,” the former No. 3 player told ATPTour.com in April. “That’s the first step for me, and then it’s about adjusting my mentality and still being motivated to compete with the younger players and compete and play well.”

🏆 Rijeka 2007
🏆 Girona 2025

At the age of 17 years and 10 months, @cilic_marin Now holds the record for the longest gap between Challenger Tour titles!#ATPchallenger | @atptour pic.twitter.com/UOcnvyGeHZ

— ATP Challenger (@ATPChallenger) March 30, 2025

Cilic once again broke another record held by Murray at the Nottingham Challenger. The 2017 Wimbledon finalist became the oldest player to win the Challenger title on grass at the age of 36 years and eight months, a feat achieved by Murray at the same event two years ago. The Croatian reached the fourth round at Wimbledon and is ranked 75th in this year’s PIF ATP rankings.

month of nava rule
For a month, Nava was unstoppable. The Americans are on a 19-game winning streak and 35 in a row, just one point shy of David Goffin’s Challenger record set in 2014. Nava has won three consecutive titles, winning on clay in Asuncion, Concepcion and Sarasota.

Nava entered the Tallahassee final holding a one-set lead, within striking distance of Guillermo Correa (2000) and Talon Grixpoor (2021) becoming the only players to win four Challenge titles in four consecutive matches, but Chris Rodsch dashed Nava’s hopes with a three-set victory.

Rajar saves 5 MPs in Bloomfield Hills, dedicates title to late grandfather
The Estonian dramatically fended off five championship points with a gutsy performance to win the Bloomfield Hills Challenge and claim his second title at ATP Challenger level. On the same day, thousands of miles away in Estonia, Lahar’s grandfather Tõnu was laid to rest.

In a post on Instagram, Rahal dedicated his biggest career trophy to his grandfather, who has been closely following the 22-year-old’s career. Rahal lifted the trophy and looked to the sky after beating Andres Martin 6-7(7), 7-5, 7-6(9) in a final that lasted 3 hours and 22 minutes.

“It was great to be able to do this because they had a ‘send-off’ with our families in Estonia on the day of the final,” Rahal told ATPTour.com. “I think it was all perfect timing.”

With Nadal looking on, Rincon completes a full-lap victory at Rafa Nadal Academy
Daniel Rincon was leading 2-0 in the second round of the ATP Challenger Tour presented by Movistar at the Rafael Nadal Academy when he suddenly froze. The Spaniard spotted Rafael Nadal himself watching the match from the stands. “I saw him watching, and I lost six games in a row,” Rincon said with a laugh. “I’m a little tight there.”

Rin Kang’s nervousness did not last long. The 22-year-old rallied to win the competition and lift the trophy where he trained and graduated in 2021. In the final, Rincon once again found former world No. 1 Nadal watching, even though the match was nearly halfway through, so Rincon “didn’t have much time to think.”

Daniel Rincon celebrates Movistar’s win at the Rafa Nadal Open. ” style=”width:100%” src=”https://www.atptour.com/-/media/images/news/2025/09/17/21/32/rincon-manacorch-2025.jpg”>
^{Daniel Rincon wins the Movistar Rafa Nadal Open. Photo Credit: Alvaro Diaz/Rafa Nadal Open by Movistar}

Buruchaga survives Sunday’s seven-hour race to take Piracicaba crown
Roman Andres Burruchaga endured a marathon at the Piracicaba Challenger on Sunday, spending nearly seven hours on the course in one day as heavy rain throughout the week delayed several races.

Bruchaga defeated home hope Gustavo Heide in the semifinals, winning in 3 hours and 2 minutes before returning to win the second-longest Challenger final in history (3 hours and 45 minutes). The Argentine saved championship points and defeated compatriot Facundo Mena 7-6(8), 6-7(6), 7-6(4) to lift the Brazilian Tennis Challenger Trophy.